A new Treasury-supported body to help accelerate council
house building will focus on the ‘business readiness’ of local authorities when
it launches in the next few weeks. Brandon Lewis, the housing minister, has
held the first summit with the key players in the new Housing and Finance
Institute (HFI), ahead of its official launch. The body – which was a key
recommendation of January’s House/Elphicke review into council house building –
was given the backing of George Osborne in the March budget. It will provide
wide-ranging advice and practical assistance to local authorities and
businesses through promoting new finance models and development opportunities. The
body will not receive government funding and will have a membership structure
for councils and businesses to access its advice. Read more on the Local
Government Chronicle website.
